In what order should I watch/read .hack?

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Kenichi
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In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Kenichi »

Hi everyone.
I've wanted to watch .hack for a long time; it seems really interesting, but I've never had the chance.
Now I want to watch/read through the storyline; but where do I start?

I want to understand everything so that I'll enjoy it more.
For example; my friend told me to start with .hack//Legend of the Twilight.
But I read that the two main characters are using the avatars of previous players on "The World", Kite & Black Rose.
Was there a previous manga or anime that outlined who Kite/Black Rose were, and what they did?

Anyway; right now I'm downloading .hack//SIGN, but I might not watch it first.

Can anyone help? Where do I start? Can anyone provide a sort of timeline for how I should watch/read through the series?
TY in advance (: hopefully someone can help.

Also: I heard that .hack//G.U. is an important part of the storyline, but I don't currently own a PS2.
Does the .hack//G.U. OVA cover everything that was in the games?
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Mellow Grunty
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Mellow Grunty »

The original games, //LIMINALITY, //SIGN, (including //GIFT) //AI Buster and //Epitaph of Twilight are the only things worth getting/reading/seeing. //G.U. and all its related media is shitty. Really shitty. Don't get it.
Good luck with the original games. If you can't find them get //Another Birth, it's just as good.
In worst case scenario, get //XXXX.

The original games or //SIGN are best to start with. Watch //LIMINALITY while reading/playing the originals, one episode after each game/book/nobody cares enough about XXXX to figure out the chapters. Then read AI Buster for some delicious Lycoris and The World back story and get //Epitaph of Twilight whenever it's translated for delicious Epitaph of Twilight and loli.

You can also read the Legend of the Twilight manga if you feel like it, it's cute, but the anime is pure poop.
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by iuliathe3rd »

Well, I quite enjoyed R:2.
So, if you want to experience the R:2 storyline in order, you should go like this:

Roots
G.U. games
G.U. Returner OVA

There's other R:2 canon material, but they haven't been translated yet.
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A.R.T
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by A.R.T »

If you want the ultimate .hack experience...

Start with .hack//SIGN
.hack//INFECTION, MUTATION, OUTBREAK, QUARANTINE (watch Liminality along with it)
Unison
GIFT
LOTB (the manga, it's canon)
Roots
.hack//G.U.(watch "End Of The World" along with it)
Returner
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by S1lentOp »

This list should include all entries into the series that are available in the United States or are planned to be available. All items in this list are in chronological order in terms of story, not release. Some episodes of certain series take place after other series; these episodes have been put in chronological order, and the series that they belong to has been specified as well.

Start with .hack//SIGN and move your way down the list.

The World R:1 Story

Prequel
.hack//SIGN (Anime)
.hack//SIGN - Intermezzo Episode(Anime)

Main Arc
.hack//Infection (Game) **
.hack//Mutation (Game) **
.hack//Outbreak (Game) **
.hack//Quarantine (Game) **
.hack//LIMINALITY (Anime) **
.hack//SIGN - Unison Episode (Anime) (Non-canon - Alternate universe)
.hack//Another Birth (Manga)
.hack//XXXX (Manga) (Non-canon - Alternate universe)
.hack//Legend of the Twilight (Manga)
.hack//Legend of the Twilight (Anime) (Non-canon - Alternate universe)
.hack//GIFT (Anime - OVA) (Non-canon - Parody)


The World R:2 Story

Prequel
.hack//ROOTS (Anime)

Main Arc
.hack//G.U. Rebirth (Game)
.hack//G.U. Reminisce (Game)
.hack//G.U. Redemption (Game)
.hack//G.U. + (Manga) (Non-canon - Alternate universe)
.hack//G.U. Novels (Manga) (Non-canon - Alternate universe)
.hack//G.U. Trilogy (Anime - Movie) (Non-canon - Alternate universe)
.hack//G.U. Returner (Anime - OVA)

** - .hack//LIMINALITY happens simultaneously with Infection, Mutation, Outbreak, and Quarantine, so watch each DVD with it's corresponding game before you start the game.

-------------
Your friend who told you to start with Legend of the Twilight told you to start with an anime that isn't at the beginning and isn't even canon. If you want the full story, in order, I would recommend you follow this list starting at the top and working your way down to the bottom. Although non-canon entries are optional, I would still recommend watching/reading all of them. If nothing else, it'll make you a better .hack guru.
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Kitsune Reikon
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Kitsune Reikon »

A.R.T wrote:If you want the ultimate .hack experience...

Start with .hack//SIGN
.hack//INFECTION, MUTATION, OUTBREAK, QUARANTINE (watch Liminality along with it)
Unison
GIFT
LOTB (the manga, it's canon)
Roots
.hack//G.U.(watch "End Of The World" along with it)
Returner
move GIFT up just after SIGN, and i think that would be good.
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by FallenDragon »

Kitsune Reikon wrote:move GIFT up just after SIGN, and i think that would be good.
Actually no, you'd first have to play IMOQ to know who is Kite and co. which they appear in GIFT; you can see it before playing the games but still...you wouldn't get some of the jokes unless you had at least an idea of who they are.
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Haseo{Terror of Death} »

Read 4koma after G.U., it's f*cking hilarious, and totally worth it
Twilight onion
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Twilight onion »

i am really into .hack although it has been long while since i watched some of the anime or played the games.

i have tried using the search on here but with no luck.

i was wondering if there is like a mega comprehensive list/write up on all the .hack stuff in like a timeline
for example like the main story from the all games/anime/manga like the essence/key points of all the different media.

i am very forgetful

hope some of you can help

thanks
ashton
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by TheSorrow »

Twilight onion wrote:i am really into .hack although it has been long while since i watched some of the anime or played the games.

i have tried using the search on here but with no luck.

i was wondering if there is like a mega comprehensive list/write up on all the .hack stuff in like a timeline
for example like the main story from the all games/anime/manga like the essence/key points of all the different media.

i am very forgetful

hope some of you can help

thanks
ashton
Read the above posts ._.
Twilight onion
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Twilight onion »

i have and that list is awesome just what i wanted.
but i also want the story explained for each part
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by NoonRider »

Twilight onion wrote:i have and that list is awesome just what i wanted.
but i also want the story explained for each part
http://www.dothack.wikia.com
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Akuta »

I would suggest NOT watching the last two episodes of ROOTS before having played .hack//GU Vol 1 and 2. It'll give you a way better experience ^^
Kenichi
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by Kenichi »

Sorry, I know this is really old-ish. :?

But I don't have a PS2. :(

Is there any manga/anime that can replace the game storylines?
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by AuraTwilight »

Well, nothing can really REPLACE them. The first four games have a novel series, Another Birth, that tells the events from the point of view from another character named Blackrose, and the newer GU games has been adapted to a book series, a manga series, and even a movie, but these all have DRASTIC alterations to the plot and take huge changes in direction.
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by TheKrempist »

Please feel free to critique this! I want it to be perfect! If I forgot something let me know!
  • I worked for hours on this taking information from many different sources and posts. I hope you enjoy. ;3
The entire .hack series categorized and in chronological order.

Things that have the same number in front can be played/read/watched in any order, although it's recommended to go through everything in this given order.


Genesis (Takes place in Fragment, the beta/alpha version of The World)

0. Epitaph of Twilight (Japanese only novel)

0. Intermezzo (Ep 27 of SIGN) (Alternatively you could watch this after sign as well, Entry included)


Project .hack (Takes place in The World)
[.hack//The World was a magazine published just for the series in Japan only]


1. AI buster (Novel that starts the .hack series)

1. AI buster 2 (Sequel novel to AI buster, read the first story)

2. SIGN (Do NOT watch ep 28 & 29) (Prequel anime to the Games)

2. AI buster 2 (Sequel novel to AI buster, read the second story)

3. SIGN - Intermezzo(AKA Episode 27 of SIGN)

3. ZERO (A seemingly discontinued Japanese only series, read the summary online)

4. 4 Games (PS2 comes with LIMINALITY which can be watched 1:1 with the end of each game)

4. **.hack//XXXX (Manga that retells the games)

4. Another Birth (Novel series for the Games, told through Blackrose's PoV)

4. Liminality (Anime that tells what happened in the real world during the 4 Games)

5. ***ChupChopCase (Unknown Japanese Only)

5. *Unison (Ep 28 of SIGN)

5. AI buster 2 (Sequel novel to AI buster, read the third and fifth stories)

6. Legend of the Twilight (The manga is Cannon, the anime is just for fun.)

6. ***Rena Special Pack (More LotT with more information on the lovely Rena)

6. *Gift (OVA Ep 29 of SIGN)

7. AI buster 2 (Sequel novel to AI buster, read the forth story)


.hack Conglomerate (Takes place in The World R:2)
[.hack//G.U. The World is another magazine published with G.U. content in Japan only]


8. End of The World (A terminal disc that came with .hack//G.U. Vol.1//Rebirth, tells about the events between the end of Project .hack and the beginning of .hack Conglomerate)

9. First Login (Japan only Drama CD Read the summary online)

10. Alcor (Read the English manga or the summary online)

10. GnU (Read the English manga or the summary online)

10. CELL (Tokyopop will publish the first of two volumes in May, 2010)

10. Roots (Do NOT watch ep 26 & 27)

11. *G.U. Trilogy (Movie of the GU Games)

11. GU Games (PS2 only)

11. The End of The World (the Terminal Disc that comes with .hack//G.U. Vol.1 Rebirth)

11. *.hack//G.U.+, a manga adaptation of the three .hack//G.U. video games released under the .hack Conglomerate project.

11. *.hack//G.U. A Novel Adaptation of the three .hack//G.U. Video games released under the .hack Conglomerate project.

11. Online Jack (An anime side-story of the G.U. Games)

12. *G.U. Trilogy: Parody Mode (Bonus from G.U. Trilogy)

12. Determination & Returner (AKA Episode 26 & 27 of Roots)

12. *.hack//4koma, a manga series which throws a little humor into both .hack and .hack//G.U. alike.


Unknown Generation of .hack (Takes place in The World R:X, the portable version of The World)


13. Link (game for the PSP)

13. * ****LINK: Twilight Knights (Also known as Link, the manga series)

14. Bullet (a web novel that follows Flugel after the events of .hack//Link.

14. QUANTUM Introduction (Manga Prequel to Qunatum OVAs)

15. Quantum (Anime OVAs)

15. Quantum+ (Manga version of OVAs)

15. Versus (A fighting game for ps3)

15. ***The Movie: Beyond the World (Anime bundled with Versus)

15. ***Sora: Beyond The World (Manga version of The Movie)

15. ***Thanatos Report (An unlockable OVA from Versus)

Non-technical chronology* ****

000. Fragment (An MMO released only in Japan [I was born in the US = FML])

000. Enemy (Card Game)

000. G.U. The Card Battle (Card Game)

000. Project X Zone (Multiple game company crossover game for 3ds)

000. Guilty Dragon (Card Game for iOS/Android to be released in English)
*(Non-canon - Alternate universe)
** (partially non-cannon)
*** (May or may not be in the right place chronologically****)
**** (This may or may not apply to one or more entries)
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by TheSorrow »

This is a topic from 2008 XDD
From back when AuraTwilight and S1lentOp were active members!!!
...
Wow
Very good times o,3o

But yep, ancient topic to reply to, and the only members in this topic still active are Haseo{ToD} and me. lol
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TheKrempist
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Re: In what order should I watch/read .hack?

Post by TheKrempist »

Thanks for the heads up. I will keep to the newer thread.

I also enjoyed reading this post. It was very VERY helpful to me. :)
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